Yawning, Dwayne searched for Magdala among the sea of proud nobles and rich merchants, who swirled together in a riot of colors. The past two days had been a blur of meetings, formal requests, and carefully worded pleas, all to bring about a wake that, as Galkin had informed him, Lord Kalan should have been arranging. Still, Dwayne and Galkin had marshaled the staff, including the Vanurians Dwayne had hired, and managed to scrub the entirety of the estate, cook dozens of dishes, restore the ballroom. There had been tensions between the Vanurian and Souran members of Walcrest's staff, including a brawl at the stables, but the idea of affronting both the Lord Commander and the Water Sage had kept them all on task, even convincing the Vanurians to look past the heathen practice of cremating a body before burial. If only Galkin were here on the actual day.

"My lord, I'm afraid I must take a leave of absence," he'd said.

Dwayne's dismay at losing Walcrest's steward had been compounded by the news that an inspector had been dispatched from the nearest Vanurian county to attend the wake. Officially, they were to smooth relations between Soura and Vanuria, but Dwayne knew that they were really here to collect the remains of Liraya and her Revenants, which Dwayne had been ordered by Lord Kalan to leave alone. Lord Kalan had called it a show of solidarity.

There. Magdala was on the other side of the ballroom inspecting the buffet table. Dwayne began his push towards her, but a careful tinkling sound stopped him. Lord Kalan had climbed onto a podium, which had been erected in the middle of the ballroom, and having gotten the attention of the room, he bowed. He looked fresh and hale, even fashionable, though his suit in Walcrest's colors of black and yellow made him look rather like a bee.

Lord Kalan pasted a smile on his face and said, "Good afternoon, I'll get right down to it. Sir Marcus was my friend, and he stuck with me through the good times and the bad times, believing in me even when I failed to uphold the standards of, well, anything, haha. He really understood the responsibility of being a noble. Yes, generations of blood and breeding have bestowed titles on many of us, but he knew that real nobility was to recognize our responsibility to Soura and to make it the best it can be." Lord Kalan's eyes glistened. "He died saving my life, and I can never repay him for that, but I ensure that his death wasn't wasted. Up until now, I've run away from my duties as a mage, as a noble, and as a citizen of this queendom. Well, no longer. Dwayne, come up here."

Dwayne froze as dozens of people turned to him. Even when Lord Kalan beckoned him to the podium, he dragged his feet, hoping that his master would change his mind, would release him from this new hell, but when he reached the podium, Lord Kalan pulled him onto it and presented him to the room.

"This is Dwayne Kalan, my heir, my apprentice," said Lord Kalan, raising his voice over the whispers. "Together, we've delved into the heart of magic and discovered a unity. He and I are going to herald a new age, an age that Marcus made possible." He bowed, pulling Dwayne down with him. "Thank you for listening to me."

He abandoned Dwayne on the podium, and for too long, Dwayne stayed frozen in sight of the whole room, listening to the whispers.

"Really, a Wesen as an apprentice?"

"An insult to Sir Marcus's name."

"Was that woman really that much of an influence on him?"

Dwayne jumped down from the podium and almost into Lord Gallus's arms.

"Whoa. Where are you going?"

Dwayne bowed and backed up. "Nowhere. I'm just checking on the rest of the estate."

Lord Gallus's eyes narrowed. "About that-"

"Gerald, a moment of your time." An older woman in a blue shawl interposed herself between them.

Lord Gallus tried to push her aside. "I'm sorry, ma'am, I-"

The old woman leaned in. "It's Privy Council business."

Lord Gallus's eyes widened. "The Queen?"

The woman nodded gravely.

"Damn. Lead the way."

He offered the old woman his arm and together they sped through the crowd. Before they were out of sight , the old woman winked at Dwayne, who fled in its wake.

Reaching the edge of the crowd, he tapped the shoulder of a woman blocking his way. "Excuse me, ma'am. I just need to get past."

The woman turned around and looked Dwayne over with violet eyes over a trim fit black coat and brass badge. She smiled. "Dwayne... Kalan. A pleasure to meet you."

***

As Dwayne fled from the podium, Magdala gathered her green skirts and moved to follow. She didn't really know what to say if she caught up to him, but what if she-

"This is an unprecedented disaster."

Magdala rounded on the speaker. "What do you mean?"

Mayor Dietrich bowed, his wine glass held aloft. "Oh, young Lady Gallus. My condolences. Hopefully, your lord uncle will soon come to his senses."

Heat filled Magdala's body. "I thought he was perfectly clear."

"Oh?" Dietrich's lip curled. "Has your mother or father approved this absurd action?"

"A mage can name anyone apprentice."

"But a noble can't just name anyone heir." Dietrich smirked. "If you think the Queen is going to approve this, then you are sorely mistaken, young Lady Gallus. Of course." He sipped from his wine glass. "There were those rumors."

"Phillipp." Colonel Harvey appeared at Magdala's elbow. "Are you spreading gossip again?"

The mayor glared. "No. Truth."

Colonel Harvey stepped closer to him. "She's here. Would you like to be posted to the mountains?"

The mayor blanched. "No, I..."

"We'll let you dry out." Colonel Harvey gripped the mayor's elbow, then leaned in close to Magdala, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I saw the scar. Is that boy really Qe?"

Magdala chilled. The clearing they'd fought the giants in was now a crater, something no Qe mage had ever achieved before. She gulped. "Why, yes, of course."

Colonel Harvey smiled. "Of course. After all, the Water Sage and her daughter were on site." She patted the mayor on the back. "You have a wife to get back to, and Magdala here has a bigger problem than either of us."

"Yes, she does."

Magdala's heart caught in her throat, and she turned around, her eyes downcast.

Her mother stood there, dressed in a zaffre blue dress with sable sleeves and silver trimming, the Kalan family colors. Her blonde hair had been pulled up into a tall collection of curls and bobs that more than made up for her short stature, which was a hair shorter than Magdala's own. For the past two days, Magdala had evaded her mother using the pretense of studying, even going so far as to take meals in town to avoid her mother's inevitable lectures. Neither Dwayne or Mei had really understood Magdala's reasons. Even busy with the wake, Dwayne had gone out of his way to offer to help her present her work, and Mei had repeated the same mantra every time they'd hung out. "She is here now. Talk to her."

Magdala met her mother's eyes and let all her excuses fall away. "Mother."

***

Ignoring Dwayne's fists curling at his side, the inspector took a bite of a sugar glazed pastry and smacked her lips. "Sage apples, that's what this flavor is. It really complements the sweet ghalinana. This is an exceptional combination of Souran produce and Vanurian cuisine." She wiped her hand on a napkin and held it out. "Inspector Clara Alves Almeida."

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Her violet eyes meant that this amiable dark-haired woman had been transformed with Fo magic. The color was prized among a count's favorites and only a count's favorite could become an inspector. This could even be the same inspector who'd pulled open Dwayne's jaws and inspected his teeth, though, if that were true, there was no sign of recognition in her eyes.

Her hand was still out. He was supposed to be polite.

Coughing, Dwayne shook her hand, his skin crawling as he did so. "Have you concluded your business here?" He snatched his hand back.

The inspector's hand returned to her side. "Yes, everyone is accounted for though I did have a question about their condition of Liraya's Vengehna."

Dwayne swallowed bitter disgust. He recognized the word. "The Revenants."

The inspector raised an eyebrow. "That is... one translation."

Dwayne smirked. "I feel that it captures the full horror of the concept."

The inspector sighed. "So you've caught the trademark Souran squeamishness." She picked up the pastry. "Hopefully, you'll step beyond your prejudices."

The pastry had been one of the fights Dwayne had had to adjudicate, but both the head chef and the Vanurian who'd made it agreed that it had turned out spectacular. He straightened up. "I'm working on it." Still, his blood chilled at the thought of the Revenants. "You were asking about the condition of the corpses?"

The inspector nodded. "Two of the bodies were in decent, if savaged, condition, but the other two had been burned down to the bone using an extraordinary amount of heat."

Dwayne keep his eyes from sliding away. "Water Sage Iona was on site."

"Yes, as was her daughter, a promising nQe mage, and perhaps this can be attributed to an extraordinary application of Qe magic, but then there's the question of... you."

Dwayne forced a shrug. "I'm still learning. A child knows more about Qe magic than I do."

"Lord Kalan bought you?" When Dwayne stiffened, she waved away his concerns. "You recognized my uniform, my badge. I doubt anyone else here could. Do you understand what an inspector does?"

"Protect her count's interests?"

The inspector chuckled. "Again, so straightforward. But yes, among other things, we make sure that goods coming into Vanuria will not introduce undue risk."

Dwayne's fists curled. "How can... goods be risky?"

The inspector's good cheer disappeared. "You know how. One spark of Ri flame could destroy an azade mine and raze an ambersoul plantation, and so we check every slave for magic. How did we miss someone like you?"

"This is a very interesting conversation." Lord Kalan appeared at Dwayne's elbow with a plate laden with food. "Here." He handed the plate to Dwayne. "Inspector, how are things?"

She stiffened. "They are going well. I was complimenting your apprentice on-"

"I heard something very interesting from Huan, a young man I'm sponsoring. He said that Vanurian mages had learned how to implant magic in non mages."

The inspector raised her chin. "Oh? That's long been a rumor. Every attempt till now has been fatal , and no civilized count would allow such waste."

"I believe that." Lord Kalan leaned in. "But what about an apex solar?"

The inspector tilted her head. "You know a fair bit about our society, Lord Kalan, but have some strange ideas. An apex solar is honor bound to do her best for all of humanity."

"Even us heathens?"

"Especially you heathens." The inspector bowed. "Thank you for inviting me to this celebration. I must be off." She strode away.

Lord Kalan smiled. "So that's an inspector. I've met Odette, so I expected them to be more... effusive."

"Right." Dwayne shoved Lord Kalan's plate back into his master's hands.

"Thank you for holding that." Lord Kalan picked a piece of fruit off the plate and popped it into his mouth. "You really should learn to hide that anger of yours. It won't serve you well in the capital."

Dwayne blinked. "What?"

"Oh, that's Iona." Lord Kalan ducked to hide from Lady Gallus, who was lecturing Magdala nearby. "She is definitely going to give me an earful after she's done with Magdala. We'll talk later." He slipped away before Dwayne could say anything.

Now Dwayne stood alone in the sea of proud nobles and rich merchants, who swirled together in a riot of colors. Again, Lord Kalan was dragging him forward, not giving him any time to breathe, but this time Dwayne knew he could do it. Still, after three days of non stop excitement, he needed a rest. He finally reached the door leading out of the ballroom, where Saundra stood guard.

When he approached her, Saundra kept her eyes just above his head and asked, "Did you have fun, milord?"

Dwayne winced. "I said you didn't have to call me that."

"Ole Harvey made it very clear who was my better."

"I've seen you fight. The answer is clear." He took a deep breath. "If you get a chance, tell Magdala I stepped out."

Saundra's eyes flickered over to Dwayne. "Yeah, okay."

"Thanks. Good night." Dwayne stepped through the door.

***

"Mother."

The elder Lady Gallus's lips flattened to a line. "Daughter. I was told that you were busy studying."

Magdala wrung her hands. "I was. Lord Uncle wanted me to catch up."

Her mother's eyes drifted to Magdala's hands. "Have you caught up? You've been dragon hunting after all."

Magdala shrugged. "I've gained practical experience."

"Lady Pol reported that you helped her fight a tree in Yumma."

Magdala wiped her sweaty hands on her dress. "Well, we all got out in the end."

"And then you volunteered to chase down a dangerous thug."

"It was a Revenant and-"

Her mother's raised hand stopped her. "You should not be out here playing adventurer. When I sent you to your lord uncle, I hoped you would learn something from him-"

"I did learn something." Magdala pulled her shoulders back. "I learned that I like it out here, that what I can do is valued out here. Yes, there's been some danger but-"

"You've nearly died three times." Her mother's eyes flashed. "My brother's little speech mentioned duty. We mages have a duty to this kingdom, and it has nothing to do with this 'heart of magic' nonsense. I don't know what he's thinking, making a Wesen his heir, but that boy threatens everything."

Magdala lowered her voice. "You saw what Dwayne is capable of. What we are capable of."

Her mother's eyes narrowed. "We?"

Heat rose in Magdala's cheeks. "Dwayne, Mei, and I."

Her mother closed her eyes and then opened them. "You are the best Soura has to offer, and we cannot afford to waste your potential out here. I admit I was wrong to send you to your lord uncle. I thought I'd catch two fish with one net: he would leap at the chance to connect with his favorite niece, and you would learn from another brilliant mind." She sighed. "That didn't happen. Instead he pulled you into his madness. So, first thing tomorrow morning you're coming with me back to the Magisterium. Your suspension is over."

Magdala's head swam. "Just like that?"

"I've laid out your case to the professors and they agree. Besides, Lady Pol insists that both you and Dwayne should attend. You'll be behind of course, but I've laid out a course of study for you to-"

"You've laid out?"

Her mother's glare quelled Magdala's anger. "Yes, I laid out a course. What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Magdala's voice was steady. "You know what's best."

"Then it's settled. Have your things packed tonight."

When her mother turned away, Magdala's words tumbled out. "What if I don't want to be a mage?"

Her mother spun around, grabbed Magdala by the shoulder, and dragged her to the edge of the ballroom. "What are you saying?"

Magdala pulled herself free of her mother's grip. "I want to fight. I want to be out here doing something, instead of studying in a dusty library."

"No. You are my daughter and you will be a great mage not a common soldier!"

Mother and daughter stared each other down, something Magdala had never experienced before. It scared her more than facing down both of the giants.

"Ah, vaulted Sage, I'm glad I had a chance to catch up to you." Bishop Hansson stepped up to Magdala and her mother, a full wine goblet in hand.

Magdala's mother attempted to immolate the bishop with just her eyes. "Who are you?"

The bishop took a half step back and bowed. "Bishop Jennifer Hansson."

Magdala watched her mother make a careful calculus. Although the Water Sage ranked much higher than a border town bishop, if Hansson had the Archbishop's favor, a misstep here could impact the Magisterium's relationship with the Church. Lady Iona Gallus painted on a stern but calm expression. "Bishop. I'm talking to my daughter."

Hansson put a hand on her hip. "Your daughter assaulted me in my own nave."

Magdala clutched her skirt. She'd completely forgotten about that.

Her mother raised an eyebrow. "Oh? For what purpose?"

"To give her pet Wesen a chance to rile up our honest citizens." The bishop smiled. "I haven't reported this to my superiors in order to keep your name out of it. We wouldn't want a scandal."

Lady Gallus turned to Hansson, a smile that promised a tidal wave of pain on her lips. "Right, I've been reading Gerald's reports, and they mentioned something about that."

Hansson looked blank. "I don't understand."

Lady Gallus's smile didn't go away. "You gave a speech that incited a murderous mob. I read the details of your speech, and I must say it was excellent oratory. After all, it took my brother's apprentice a heartfelt speech and hours of communing with the residents of Walton to undo the damage you caused."

Hansson pointed her finger at Magdala. "Your daughter knocked me out!"

"And I will deal with her punishment, but I will be forwarding that report to the Archbishop's office with my own notes on the matter. I may even get my brother's apprentice to add his thoughts."

Bishop Hansson's mouth fell open.

"Was there anything else?" asked Lady Gallus.

The bishop retreated. "This isn't the last you'll hear of this. I'll send my own account."

"I expect you to." When the priest had fled, Lady Gallus turned back into Magdala's disappointed mother. "Things like that are why you need to learn what it means to be a Qe mage."

"An nQe mage," corrected Magdala.

"Same thing."

"No, it isn't. I'm not going to create giant walls, bring water to farms, or fly. I'm going to spend my days sitting in a laboratory, making chemicals for other people's use. I want more." She stomped away.

"Magdala!"

"No, I'm going to pack!" Magdala shoved her way through the crowd and reached where Saundra was standing guard. "I'm getting out of here. Coming with?"

Saundra goggled at Magdala. "I can't leave my post, milady."

The other guard on the door coughed. "I'll cover for you. Shift change isn't but a few minutes from now anyway. Go on, Swordbreaker."

"But-"

"Are you coming?" Magdala had caught sight of her mother.

Saundra sighed. "I'll owe you," she said to the other guard.

"No, you won't."

When they were safely out of the ballroom, Magdala asked Saundra, "Where should we go?"

Saundra grinned. "I know a place."